The Muslim Observerhttp://muslimobserver.com
News by and for the American Muslim CommunityMon, 02 Mar 2015 17:17:22 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Inspired by Baptists a Muslim mother gives back in Houstonhttp://muslimobserver.com/inspired-by-baptists-a-muslim-mother-gives-back-in-houston/
http://muslimobserver.com/inspired-by-baptists-a-muslim-mother-gives-back-in-houston/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 03:39:58 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18652By Carissa D. Lamkahouan TMO Contributing Writer A Muslim since she was 18, Ashley Hammad knows that serving others is a mandate from Allah and a mark of a true believer. But it wasn’t Islam that imparted that love for charity, in fact, Hammad said it was her upbringing in the Baptist church that instilled ...

Photo caption: Hammad, third from left in rear, has been hard at work volunteering her time in the Houston area.

A Muslim since she was 18, Ashley Hammad knows that serving others is a mandate from Allah and a mark of a true believer. But it wasn’t Islam that imparted that love for charity, in fact, Hammad said it was her upbringing in the Baptist church that instilled in her a love of service and a heart for helping others. But no matter her faith, Hammad said her mission and the intent behind it are the same.

“God inspires me,” she said. “I grew up (in church) learning that serving others is serving God, that you’re doing it to please him and that serving others is serving him, but this is our duty in Islam, too.”

To that end, Hammad, who lives in Houston, Texas, volunteers several times a year with the Houston Food Bank, spends some of her free time organizing charity runs or school supply drives and often rummages her closets to gather clothing donations for service organizations.

She said her work with the Houston Food Bank is especially humbling considering how hard the group’s organizers work.

“Time is a precious thing and we’re given a lot of it so donating a few hours of my time is nothing, especially compared to what they do to keep that program going,” Hammad said.

She also emphasized how important it is for Muslims, especially women who wear hijab, to put themselves out into the community, to offer up their time and to show the true humanitarian face of Islam.

“When I go (to the Houston Food Bank) I’m the only hijabi there, and I go alone, not with a group,” she said. “I think it’s da’wa (propagation of the faith). I want people to know that Muslims are here to serve the community, not just themselves. That’s a good image of Islam because, if I’m wearing hijab, there’s a chance that I’m making someone think good of Islam.”

But Hammad said volunteering alone is not enough. She said how Muslims present themselves is just as important as what they’re doing.

“When you volunteer, have a smile on your face, be polite, be respectful, be humble, be peaceful, be all the things that Muslims are supposed to be, that should be your goal,” she urged. “Think about it, when you wear a smile and you’re doing your job, at the end of the day how can someone not respect that?”

Hammad knows something of respect, particularly when speaking of her family members, many of whom offered themselves in service and are now her role models. She related stories of Ester Kessler, her maternal grandmother who served in India during World War II as a member of the U.S. Air Force, and told a tale of her great-uncle Vincent Henderson, a merchant marine who was captured as a WWII prisoner of war.

“My mom told me that even after (Henderson) was released he still went back to work on the ships,” Hammad said.

That legacy of service is what Hammad is trying to live up to and even pass on to her two daughters, 9-year-old Yasmeen and 6-year-old Nisreen.
“I want them to be contributing citizens,” she said. “Children learn from what goes on in their own home, so what they see their mother doing they will want to do the same.”

To ensure that happens, Hammad often takes her girls along on her volunteer trips to the Houston Food Bank, and they recently accompanied her and participated in the Houston Heart Walk to raise money for a friend suffering from a heart condition.

Hammad said seeing those in need and hungry at the food bank was eye opening for both girls.

“It was kind of a shock for them,” she said. “They didn’t know anything like that existed but now they do.”

But Hammad’s influence seems to be paying off. At Nisreen’s most recent birthday, the youngster agreed to forgo presents and instead accepted donations of canned food stuffs which she and her older sister Yasmeen then delivered to a local grocery store to be transported to the food bank.
Hammad said her daughter did not lament the loss of gifts, but instead focused on simply enjoying the company of her guests during her birthday party.

“Nisreen was fine with it,” she said. “She just wanted to spend time with her friends.”

With her work to model volunteerism and to encourage charity to her children, Hammad said she hopes to see a bigger push toward those same values within the Muslim community at large, something she believes is lacking.

“We have a duty to go outside of our masjid (and offer service) and there should be more hubs for that, more resources where youth can go to and donate their time, or resources for people to access and get answers about their questions on how to volunteer,” she said. “We need someone at the mosque to pick up the phone and offer that information.”

But she said it’s ultimately up to each individual to do their part and take the initiative. She added that, in this day and age, finding someone or an organization in need of help is simple.

“It’s as easy as Googling volunteer opportunities in your city,” she said.

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/inspired-by-baptists-a-muslim-mother-gives-back-in-houston/feed/0Obituaryhttp://muslimobserver.com/obituary/
http://muslimobserver.com/obituary/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 03:31:57 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18649Abdul Latif S. Nakadar, younger brother of Dr. A.S. Nakadar breathed his last on February 20, 2015. The cause of death was cardiac arrest, but he was also undergoing treatment for throat cancer. A very successful businessman by profession he was a community activist and leader liked by both Muslims and non-Muslims. People sought his ...

]]>Abdul Latif S. Nakadar, younger brother of Dr. A.S. Nakadar breathed his last on February 20, 2015. The cause of death was cardiac arrest, but he was also undergoing treatment for throat cancer. A very successful businessman by profession he was a community activist and leader liked by both Muslims and non-Muslims. People sought his advice on matters of education, business, social and political issues. He leaves behind two sons, a daughter and nine grandchildren. His eldest Dr. M. Zuber Nakadar is a director of lab operations at Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York.

Members of the Nakadar family request a dua-e-magferat. May Allah (swt) forgive his shortcomings and grant him Janatul Firdaus. May HE give patience to his family members.

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/obituary/feed/0CAIR-Michigan fundraiserhttp://muslimobserver.com/cair-michigan-fundraiser/
http://muslimobserver.com/cair-michigan-fundraiser/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 03:26:54 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18647The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will host the 15th annual banquet, “Rooted in Faith: Growing Through Service” on March 8, 2015, at the Burton Manor in Livonia, MI to celebrate 15 years of civil rights advocacy. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Sherman Jackson, the King Faisal Chair of Islamic Thought ...

]]>The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will host the 15th annual banquet, “Rooted in Faith: Growing Through Service” on March 8, 2015, at the Burton Manor in Livonia, MI to celebrate 15 years of civil rights advocacy.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Sherman Jackson, the King Faisal Chair of Islamic Thought and Culture, and Professor of Religion and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. Guest speakers include ISNA Vice President Altaf Husain and emcee Zahra Billoo, Esq., Executive Director of CAIR San Francisco Bay Area. The program starts at 2 p.m.

CAIR-MI will present Retired Judge Adam A. Shakoor with the Community Service Award for his work in civil rights and service as Detroit’s first Muslim deputy mayor from 1989-1993.

In 2014 CAIR-Michigan joined the Detroit Equity Action Lab initiative to propose recommendations for structural racial equality in Detroit through a $1.3 million grant awarded to the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at the Wayne State University Law School. Peter Hammer, director of the Damon J. Keith Center, leads the initiative.

CAIR also filed applications for political asylum and Temporary Protected Status on behalf of more than 100 Syrians with nearly a 100% success rate.
The organization also removed several Michigan Muslims off federal watch lists and was quoted in the media over 300 times since 2014.

CAIR promoted Muslim friendly accommodations and policies in various institutions such schools, prisons and workplaces through Safe Spaces. Accommodations range from prayer, Friday prayer, facilitating copies of the Quran, halal meals in schools and correctional facilities, segregated gym classes in public schools, and more.

To buy a ticket or for information visit cairmichigan.org: $50/adult, $30/student, $10/child, and a table of 10 is $500. Limited tickets available at door. Call 248-559-2247.

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/cair-michigan-fundraiser/feed/0Kameelah Rashad receives awardhttp://muslimobserver.com/kameelah-rashad-receives-award/
http://muslimobserver.com/kameelah-rashad-receives-award/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 03:24:47 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18645By Mohammad Ayub Khan TMO Contributing Writer Kameelah Rashad, founder of Muslim Wellness Foundation, has received the prestigious community impact award 2015 from the National Council for Behavioral Health. The mission of Muslim Wellness Foundation is to reduce stigma associated with mental illness, addiction and trauma in the American Muslim community. Rashad received the award ...

ALTON, IL–OSF Saint Anthony’s Foundation has announced the establishment of the Dr. Sadiq Mohyuddin, Mrs. Talat Gul Mohyuddin and Dr. Yusuf Mohyuddin Endowment to promote and enhance pulmonary medicine at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton. The endowment has been initiated with $30,000 in seed money.

The endowment is designed to increase awareness and prevention of pulmonary diseases, as well as support technological advancements in respiratory services at OSF Saint Anthony’s, according to a press release.
We are truly honored to receive a very generous financial gift from Dr. Sadiq Mohyuddin, Mrs. Mohyuddin and Dr. Yusuf Mohyuddin,” says Ajay Pathak, President of OSF Saint Anthony’s. “Their passion for this community is obvious through their many years of support of our hospitals, the patients and our Sisters here in Alton.”

Dr. Sadiq Mohyuddin has been on the medical staff for over 44 years; Dr. Yusuf Mohyuddin joined Saint Anthony’s Physician Group in 2007.
“As a physician with a special interest in pulmonary medicine, Dr. Mohyuddin understands the impact of respiratory diseases, like COPD, asthma, emphysema, asbestosis, pneumonia and lung cancer. This endowment will support our pulmonary lab and outreach efforts in the community and for that we are extremely grateful,” adds Ajay.

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/dr-mohyuddin-establishes-endowment/feed/0Daniel Ansari a top Canadian scientisthttp://muslimobserver.com/daniel-ansari-a-top-canadian-scientist/
http://muslimobserver.com/daniel-ansari-a-top-canadian-scientist/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 03:20:54 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18641By Mohammad Ayub Khan TMO Contributing Writer University of Western Ontario’s psychology professor Daniel Ansari is one among 34 recipients of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) awards recognizing the work of outstanding Canadian scientists and engineers. Ansari, a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Tier 2, was presented the E.W.R. ...

University of Western Ontario’s psychology professor Daniel Ansari is one among 34 recipients of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) awards recognizing the work of outstanding Canadian scientists and engineers.

Ansari, a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Tier 2, was presented the E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, one of six awarded to enhance the career development of outstanding and highly promising scientists and engineers who are faculty members of Canadian universities.

A NSERC citation read: “A world leader in searching for the brain mechanisms underlying numerical and mathematical processing, Ansari is using behavioral and brain imaging methods to study the individual differences that put some children on a poor trajectory for learning math. For example, his research has shown that early numeracy can predict future, high-level math abilities – information that will help teachers, school psychologists and parents.”

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/daniel-ansari-a-top-canadian-scientist/feed/0Boston Muslims join interfaithhttp://muslimobserver.com/boston-muslims-join-interfaith/
http://muslimobserver.com/boston-muslims-join-interfaith/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 03:19:24 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18638By Mohammad Ayub Khan TMO Contributing Writer BOSTON,MA–The huge snow storms in Boston in the past month have been very for difficult for its citizens. The interfaith clergy usually organizes prayer services. But in current circumstances that was impossible. So they created a home made video message to comfort the people. The video featuring Christian, ...

BOSTON,MA–The huge snow storms in Boston in the past month have been very for difficult for its citizens. The interfaith clergy usually organizes prayer services. But in current circumstances that was impossible. So they created a home made video message to comfort the people. The video featuring Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders urges the people to find comfort in each other.

“We are in this together,” say the faith leaders in video clips, standing amid snowdrifts and icicles outside their houses of worship. “We have each other . . . to tend and befriend, with an errand, with a casserole, with a phone call, with a prayer.”

Suzan M. El-Rayess, director of development at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury, and Imam Ismail Fenni of the Islamic Society of Boston in Cambridge are featured in the video.

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/boston-muslims-join-interfaith/feed/0ISIS’ position is not so strong as it might seemhttp://muslimobserver.com/isis-position-is-not-so-strong-as-it-might-seem/
http://muslimobserver.com/isis-position-is-not-so-strong-as-it-might-seem/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 22:20:09 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18634By Geoffrey Cook TMO Contributing Writer What we have seen in the recent past weeks has been unmentionable. The fight within the MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region is for the heart and soul of Islam! Dar al-Islam is degenerating into an ever deeper Hell through civil war between Muslims there. What should be done to end the conflict, ...

Turkish soldiers and an army tank take position at the new site of the Suleyman Shah tomb near the northwern Syrian village of Esme, on the Syrian-Turkish border February 24, 2015. Photo credit: Reuters.

By Geoffrey CookTMO Contributing Writer

What we have seen in the recent past weeks has been unmentionable. The fight within the MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region is for the heart and soul of Islam! Dar al-Islam is degenerating into an ever deeper Hell through civil war between Muslims there. What should be done to end the conflict, and to preserve the Faith inviolate? Further, how can us all protect ourselves in North America from the Islamophobia originating from the mainstream’s misunderstanding of the events within the ummah?

As I read more and more the description of newly liberated innocent Muslims from that “State” in the Middle East, the depiction of the Takfir army is delineated and it is horrible!

In a sense, they are unrightfully subsuming Sunni Islam unto themselves. They are projecting damnation against all those who do not believe as they: the Shia, the Christians and the Yazidis – as well as the vast majority of Sunnis who do not hold the same opinions or religious expression of the faith as they. Succinctly, because they have misinterpreted the Sharia, they claim that the scriptures and the Hadith and various rulings in past centuries give them the right to commit these abominable acts upon the bodies and the dignity of those who hold a more correct understanding of the revelations of the Prophet (PBUH), whereas the scholars and the jurists throughout the generations have kept Islam’s beliefs relevant to the historical environment whereas remaining true to the Divinely asserted Truths of the Seer (PBUH). The Takfiri State ignores this adaptability of their religion, holding, instead, to a historical vision that is ungrounded in much of its assumptions.

As the Grand Mufti of Egypt i.e., al-Al, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, has said, the “Islamic” State is neither Islamic nor a “State.” (The French government’s policy is to use the Arabic acronym, DAASH [al-Dawla al-Islamiya al-Iraq al-Sham], to denote the grouping — for it takes the connotation of Islam from them in the European languages.

DAASH, through its brutality, is attempting to create a civil war between Sunnis and Shias within Dar al-Islam. They have so far failed for Sunnis and Shias as well as the Western Air Forces are destroying and degrading their ability to effectively attack. Furthermore, they are endeavoring to create a wedge between those Sunnis and the Shia to engender a civil war between the indigenous Arabs of the Fertile Crescent. DAASH is attempting to enforce their views and practice upon the indigenous there. Yet, DAASH’s beastly efforts have only have disseminated disgust over their violent apostasy over the Levant. Particularly, within the nation-States and the sub-nationalities which make up that zone.

Egypt’s response to the beheading of twenty-one Copts was positive in that it showed for a substantial minority community of that they are citizens whom their Muslim government will protect.

At the same time, to understand the rise of DAASH, one must comprehend the failure of the Arab Spring. It is a reaction to the suppression of democratic Islamism in that “Spring” by the ancien regime of authoritarianism and opportunism at the raise of instability at the failure of a democratic transition.

Although many readers would disagree, your writer sees similarities with the Second World War in the brutality applied to non-combatants which boomeranged against the perpetrators then, and is happening now in Iraq/Syria. (Currently, a Christian Militia has been organized in Nineveh Province [of Iraq!] Besides, there is guerrilla activity outside of Raqqa (Syria), Daash’s “capital” itself). As well, the majority of the Coalition are Muslim Arabs or Kurds! After last Sunday’s incursion into Syrian Kurdistan, your researcher expect deeper involvement by the Turks since the issues that were holding them back have been lifted.

Kabane was DAASH’s Stalingrad, and it was the first major victory in the struggle, and may have been the turning point. At the moment the Kurds — and Iranians clandestinely — are taking back territory. The Kurds have been blocking Syria from Iraq. American troops are stationing combat forces (possibly Marines) covertly to shore up the sacrifices of the Kurds; strangling the “State’s” resupply routes at the two traditional nation-States there’s long-standing boundary to block DAASH’s re-enforcement of troops and material.

The Americans, Europeans and the Australians along with their allied Arab States – especially Jordan and the U.A.E. (with, surreptitiously, the Syrian and Iranian) air forces have been pounding DAASH. Also, this clash is begetting a rapprochement between the United States and Iran which could impact the geopolitical equation in the area in the future. With DAASH progressively being surrounded and degraded, the determinate encounter should be the redemption of Mosul.

The American military predicts the Iraqi army will advance toward Mosul in the spring. (I believe the public exposure of the plans for engagement a fortnight ago was leaked to confuse the combatant Takfiri mercenaries from what the real strategy might be, which depends upon the conditions on the ground, during April and/or May.)

Already the Kurds are at the exurbs of that second most populated in city in Iraq, in fact, the Peshmerga are discharging projectiles at their opposing occupier-opponents presently ensconced in the urban confines. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that those (Syrian) Kurds will have broken through DAASH’s defenses there, and quite, possibly, overwhelmed the subjugated city before the national army is ready to move.

The Turks are tightly guarding their border with (Kurdish) Syria, and it seems that the army has been ordered not to let DAASH into their territory; so, for these mercenaries, an orderly retreat in that direction will be impossible. Jordan has done the same to seal its most porous border. It is not impossible to perceive both of these countries dedicating ground troops to a future fray, too. Slowly an encirclement is being achieved.

Iran has been active with the Iraqi Shia militias, and they have won important battles. But this international Coalition, which is both overt and covert, is most fragile because of the Shia/Sunni split.

Essentially, there is a struggle between Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shia) for the hegemony over the Middle East. The Saudis, the protector of Islam’s holiest of sites, have committed themselves to the Coalition, at the end of the late King Abdullah’s reign. Their military has run sorties against DAASH’s war effort in the name of their national interests. To achieve their territorial and international goals, a certain distance from the Sunni-Shia conflict must be maintained. For the “State” (DAASH’s) presence is already actively embedded within the Kingdom. Although the split is similar to that between the Protestants and the Romans Catholics in Christianity during the Occidental Renaissance, differences must be suspended be suspended between Sunnis and Shia for a time as the Capitalist West did with the Communist USSR (the former Union Soviet Socialist Republics) to defeat the Axis – especially Nazi Germany who were the moral equivalent of DAASH.

There are variables within this most positive scenario. One of them is DAASH’s ability to refurbish their ranks from Europe. Recently, Turkey has begun to detain foreign fighters from crossing into Syria. In order for a deceive outcome for the confrontation at Mosul, Takfir re-enforcements either in men or material must not on the battlefield.

The American General Petraeus, besides his famous martial tactic of the Surge, also, engendered the “Arab Awakening” during America’s aggression against Iraq. That involved winning over the Sunni tribes who are in the area of where battles are being fought. With the Sectarianism of the al-Maliki’s leadership, the trust of the tribes has faded. There is a question amongst them, whether life led by a prejudiced Shia-dominated central government, could be much better than that with DAASH. A recent tragedy were a whole village was executed the most horrendous torture might give them thought to lean over towards the Coalition. On the twenty-third the Iraqi army is moving forward to clear DAASH from the trial area. Whatever, the tribes are vital to the fate of DAASH.

Yet, further, even if Mosul becomes a decisive victory, the grand expanse of their captured territory – which is larger than England – must be mopped up, and that could take years. Therefore, mopping up operations could take years even though the Syrian army is near the doorsteps of Aleppo and Raqaa, the center of their “Empire.”

Most recently, the “Caliphate” has spread from Iraq and Syria to all over the Islamic world. Like al-Qaeda before it, any “fundamentalist” Muslim group who have a gripe against their Islamic rulers, can take out a franchise of the “Islamic” State within their terrain by self-proclamation. Yet, they are no longer a guerrilla (terrorist) group but a “State.” Thus, in theory, to be part of a “Caliphate,” they would have to control a pseudo-country. Further, they would have to provide services to its citizens. At first, Abu Bakr al-Baghadi’s sham-“State” was well-run, and its governance was superior to the two nation-States it had partially super-succeeded. With degradation from the Allies, though, it has been reduced from the richest terrorist org to the poorest (failed) “State.”

Further, when one branch of the “State” finds itself separated from the heartland of the primary “State” (“the Caliphate –” such as the franchise in Libya – they would have to hook up with DAASH. This would necessitate the conquest of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and the two smaller nations in the Levant.

This presents the grievous concept of “Eternal War,” where the Coalition has the upper hand and the reaction of hate crimes against the Diaspora.

It must be remembered that it was pronouncements during the “Baby” Bush’s ascendency in America that led to this tragedy. Consequently, America has a moral duty to deliver these people from this horrendous tragedy!

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/isis-position-is-not-so-strong-as-it-might-seem/feed/0Islamophobia haunts US Muslimshttp://muslimobserver.com/islamophobia-haunts-us-muslims/
http://muslimobserver.com/islamophobia-haunts-us-muslims/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 21:57:07 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18628By Carissa Lamkahouan onislam.net DALLAS – For Mohammed Jafri, thoughts that his hijab-wearing wife might be attacked when she is running errands by herself, either in grocery shopping alone or shuttling the kids to the park, have hijacked his personal feeling of safety forever. “I tell her to try not to go anywhere she doesn’t ...

DALLAS – For Mohammed Jafri, thoughts that his hijab-wearing wife might be attacked when she is running errands by herself, either in grocery shopping alone or shuttling the kids to the park, have hijacked his personal feeling of safety forever.

“I tell her to try not to go anywhere she doesn’t need to go, and I try to go with her most places when I can,” Jafri, who lives in New Jersey, told OnIslam.net.

“What if she is attacked while I’m not there?”

Jafri said his attitude is a direct reaction to what he and other American Muslims perceive as an uptick in hostility and even violence against people who adhere to Islam. And he has good reason.

With the recent murder of three young Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the burning of an Islamic Center in Houston, Texas, which authorities ruled as arson, and the numerous reports of personal harassment, Muslim men and women are dealing with across the country, one could argue that Jafri’s worries are legitimate.

“Obviously there’s an increase in animosity against Muslims because of everything that’s been happening,” Jafri said, siting the rise and ongoing atrocities committed by the so-called Islamic State (ISIL) in the Middle East, the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris, and the recent killings in Denmark at a free speech event. All of these incidents were allegedly perpetrated by Muslims.

Because of the bad news that seems to keep coming and coming, Jafri said it’s up to Muslims to make sure they and their families are safe.

“Muslims need to protect themselves,” he said. “We just want to be left alone.”

Since the 9/11 attacks, US Muslims, estimated between 6-8 million, have complained of discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities.

A US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.

A Gallup poll also found that the majority of US Muslims are patriot and loyal to their country and are optimistic about their future.

Hijab!

Terri Azouak, who lives in Dallas, Texas, said she feels relatively safe. Because she doesn’t wear hijab, she’s not an obvious target.

However, she has some concern for her son, who is named Mohamed and is easily identified as a Muslim. Because of this, she said she’s felt compelled to make certain concessions recently in order to avoid any potential trouble.

“I feel safe, but I do worry at this point,” she said. “I will not attend the masjid or large gatherings with my kids right now.”

Azouak said she and her husband were recently discussing the current climate of Islamaphobia in America. She said he feels things will soon settle down and people will forget and move on, even those who are wary of Muslims. However, she said the continuing threat of the Islamic State isn’t helping the situation.

“They (ISIL) just keep on with these horrific crimes they are committing,” she said.

“I really don’t know how to feel at this point. No one in our community has shown any hatred, and I hope it stays that way.”

Tracy Lyn agreed with Azouak that she feels safe in her town of Dayton, Ohio, but pointed out that she does not cover her hair and, therefore, is not usually recognized as a Muslim. However, she said that’s not the case for everyone.

“I thought my city was safe, but I talked to one of my Saudi Arabian students who told me that he’s been harassed (very recently). He was cussed out and told to go back home,” Lyn said.

“He also said his sister gets harassed at least half the time she leaves the house.”

Fostering Understanding

Despite tensions running high amongst some Muslims and those who are distrustful of Islam, Shauna Doyle of Minnesota said if there is hope of fostering understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims to avoid racism, prejudice and even violence.

She added that it is everyone’s responsibility to control their reaction to the news and to think critically about what is happening around the world.

“It seems that whatever allegiances people have immediately take over and people have these knee-jerk reactions to every bit of news before even investigating the basic details of the story,” Doyle told OnIslam.net.

“We all need to be much more mindful of this blind polarization and stop perpetuating it.”

As an example, she pointed to Facebook and other social-media postings she read in the immediate aftermath of the Chapel Hill murders of three young American Muslim students, two of whom were hijab-wearing women.

“I saw many postings calling the murderer a terrorist and demonizing the news media and the government for not recognizing him as such. This was within a day of the killings when there was very little known about the case,” Doyle said.

“Who does it help to react in this way? Certainly not the Muslim community. It does, however, help to reinforce the view that Muslims are wacko extremists.”

Doyle said Muslims in America need to be responsible in terms of how they react to world events and must work for unity instead of division.

“Hate and assumptions seriously undermine that work,” she said.

“We need to be extra vigilant about how we digest and react to all this horrible news. This is something both sides (Muslims and non-Muslims) need to work on.”

]]>http://muslimobserver.com/islamophobia-haunts-us-muslims/feed/0Supreme Court to hear case of a headscarf that cost a Muslim teen a jobhttp://muslimobserver.com/supreme-court-to-hear-case-of-a-headscarf-that-cost-a-muslim-teen-a-job/
http://muslimobserver.com/supreme-court-to-hear-case-of-a-headscarf-that-cost-a-muslim-teen-a-job/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 21:49:28 +0000http://muslimobserver.com/?p=18625By Lauren Markoe Religion News Service WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday (Feb. 25) will hear the case of a young Muslim woman who says the Abercrombie & Fitch clothing store illegally denied her a job because she wears a hijab in keeping with her faith. The store argues that company policy used to forbid floor “models” — the company’s word ...

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday (Feb. 25) will hear the case of a young Muslim woman who says the Abercrombie & Fitch clothing store illegally denied her a job because she wears a hijab in keeping with her faith.

The store argues that company policy used to forbid floor “models” — the company’s word for store employees who interact with customers — from wearing caps, and that it was up to Samantha Elauf, 17 at the time of her interview, to make it clear that she needed a religious accommodation.

A federal district court agreed with Elauf and her lawyers in the case, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores Inc., which originated in Tulsa, Okla. But the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Abercrombie.

Now the Supreme Court, which in recent years has generally sided with those who say that their religious rights have been trampled, will hear Elauf’s appeal.

Her attorneys say she is protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the grounds of race, national origin, sex and religion.

If the high court agrees with the 10th Circuit, it would “permit an employer to discriminate against a job applicant on the basis of her religion without legal consequence if the applicant does not know that she must expressly state her need for a religious accommodation, even when she is unaware of employer policies that would require it,” said William Burgess, senior staff attorney at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which filed a brief in the case.

On the store’s side, the Cato Institute, a Washington-based libertarian think tank, argued in its brief that it must be up to the prospective employee to raise the issue of a religious accommodation.

“Any other rule not only foments tremendous awkwardness in the employer-employee relationship, but puts the employer in the untenable position of having to inquire into certain sensitive personal information even as such queries themselves are legally
disfavored,” the Cato brief states.

The court is expected to decide the case in the spring or early summer.